Duration:

Host Organizations:

Kyoto Program students intern at all kinds of organization – from huge multinationals, to startups, NGOs, government, traditional and modern industries, universities and research institutes. Some students have very niche interests – and the Kyoto Program staff does their best to source these types of highly specialized internship too.

Check out Past Host Organizations for specific examples of companies and organizations in Japan that have hosted Kyoto Program students in the past.

Finances:

All students receive a total stipend of 250,000 yen to cover their meals and other living expenses for the duration of the internship program, to be provided either by the host organization or through arrangement by the Stanford Kyoto Program, or both.

Housing is also provided at no charge to the student for the duration of the internship. Students do not need to source their own housing. Type of housing varies from a dorm, guesthouse, private apartment, to a hotel. All students have their own private bedroom, and many are in self-contained apartments, but in some cases students may share some communal living facilities with other tenants.

Commuting costs between housing and internship host (if not within reasonable walking distance) are also covered by the program or the host organization.

Students are responsible for all other expenses not covered by the program or the host organization, including meals and living expenses exceeding the stipend amount; local transportation expenses to their internship site prior to the start of their internship; travel expenses from their internship site to the airport at the end of their internship; national health insurance costs; other incidental and personal expenses including Internet if not provided at their housing.

Stipend or meal allowance is not provided during the break between the end of Spring Quarter and the start of the summer internship program, as this period is considered out of session. Students will have to make their own housing arrangements during this period as well as any dates outside of the internship program.

Since some students may not find out their internship location until later in Spring Quarter, so it is recommended that students book a flight that has no or minimal change fee just in case the internship end-date and/or location is different to what was expected.

Eligibility:

Stanford University undergraduate students in good academic standing.

Successful completion of Spring Quarter on the BOSP Kyoto Program during the same academic year.

By the time students begin their summer internship, they need to have completed at least one or two years of Japanese language depending on their major classification, as follows:

STEM major students (or prospective STEM major students) need to have completed JAPANLNG3 or 3K

Non-STEM major students (or prospective non-STEM major students) need to have completed JAPANLNG23 or 23K.

Seniors or co-terms are eligible as long as they do not confer their undergraduate degrees until after they complete their internship (this will be the end of Summer Quarter); students must keep an undergraduate status until and while they are abroad to remain eligible.

Support from the Stanford Kyoto Program:

The Kyoto Program’s director and Internships Coordinator work closely with each student individually - from their acceptance onto the internship program, right the way through to end of the internship. We try to understand each student’s goals, preferences and suitability for their prospective internships so that they can get the most from their experience. Prior to summer, students meet regularly with the Internship Coordinator to discuss options, work on their resume or covering letter, meet the internship hosts together either in person or by videoconference before the start date, arrange housing, receive internship orientation, and many more things. Kyoto Program staff are available to offer advice throughout the summer to interning students, and we also visit each student in person at their workplace at the midway point of the internship to see how it is going and to provide any additional support as needed.

How to Apply:

Prospective Spring Kyoto students who wish to take part in the internship component for the subsequent summer must submit the internship application form, in addition to the BOSP application form to indicate their intent to participate in the internship component as well.

The application form for the internship program is linked from the BOSP program application. The application deadline for internship is the same as the application deadline for the Spring Quarter program.

Students who submit their internship application form before the deadline will be automatically eligible to participate in the internship program as long as they participate in the spring quarter of the BOSP Kyoto Program within the same academic year and meet the other program eligibility requirements above.

Matching Process:

The matching process usually starts at the end of December or in January once students confirm their participation to the Stanford Program in Kyoto internship. Students are either matched with internship opportunities identified by the Stanford Program in Kyoto or the ones identified by themselves.

As the program aims to source the best possible internship opportunity that align to student academic majors and interests, the program does not take geographical location into consideration during the matching process.

The matching process continues until all internship placements are finalized, usually before the beginning of June.

Every Stanford undergraduate should give serious consideration to studying overseas.

Regardless of the academic path you choose, you will be enriched by time spent in another country. Achieving cultural literacy and gaining substantive understanding of other perspectives in the world will deepen your awareness of yourself, your educational goals, and your own society. Nearly one-half of each graduating class studies abroad through one of Stanford's overseas programs.